Sweep and guard mechanism for bowling pin setting machines



NOV. 1953 s. s. AUCHINCLOSS 1ET AL 2, 9

SWEEP AND GUARD MECHANISM FOR BOWLING PIN SETTING MACHINES 6Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 16, 1947 Nov. 3, 1953 S. S. AUCHINCLOSS ETALFiled April 16, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 ffiy H J L w @i L JNVENTORS.

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SWEEP AND GUARD MECHANISM FOR BOWLING PIN SETTING MACHINES Filed April16 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 1953 s. s. AUCHINCLOSS ETAL 2 SWEEP AND GUARDMECHANISM FOR BOWLING PIN SETTING MACHINES Filed April 16, 1947 6Sheets-Sheet 5 & IHHIIHHIHIIIIIHHH] INVENTORS 4/72116/15 fitfi/fl c 5yew/ hP/FM s 1953 s. s. AUCHINCLOSS ETAL 9 SWEEP AND GUARD MECHANISM FORBOWLING PIN SETTING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 16. 1947Patented Nov. 3, 1953 SWEEP AND GUARD MECHANISM FOR BOWLING PIN SETTINGMACHINES Samuel S. Auchincloss, Williamsville, and Henry W. Phillips,Kenmore, N. Y., assignors to American Machine and Foundry Company, acorporation of New Jersey Application April 16, 1947, Serial No. 741,932

17 Claims. 1

This invention relates to bowling pin setting machines and particularlynovel and improved means mechanism for automatically controlling theoperation or such machines.

Some machines or this sort are provided with a-guard structure which,during a part of a playing cycle, occupies a raised position above therear portion of an alley bed on which pins are arranged for play. At atime subsequent to the passage of a ball thereben'eath into or beyondthe pin occupying zone, the guard is automatically lowered to the alleyin front of the pin zone to prevent passage of other balls into thatzone during the subsequent operating cycle of the pin setting machine,

In some machines the operation of the guard occurs as part of a machinecycle which is automatically and sequentially operated through actuationof a switch or the like by the deposit of the ball or deadwood in thepit at the rear of the alley. The time interval between passage of aballthrough the pin zone and entry of deadwood into the pit and thesubsequent lowering of the guard has been of such duration that pinscould, and sometimes did, walk or were propelled or rolled towards thefront of the alley beyond the reach of the .guard before the lattercould be lowered. Any pins thus escaping beyond the control of the pinsetting machine had to be manually retrieved, with resultinginterruptions and delay.

Machines of this type may also be provided with a sweep device which ismounted on, or associated with the guard and which, after the guard islowered, automatically moves rearwardly over the alley bed to sweepdeadwood therefrom into the pit in rear of the alley. The sweep thenreturns to its initial position and it and the guard are elevated toclear the pin zone for subsequent p y.

It is an object of the present invention to provide in a bowling pinsetting machine, novel means'for automatically lowering the guard, orguard and sweep, directly or quickly after a thrown ball has passed apredetermined or selected transverse zone on the alley in front of thepin zone, whereb'y the guard is lowered in time to prevent pins fromescaping forwardly beyond the guard.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for thuslowering the guard prior to and independently of the initiation andstart of the cycle of automatic operation of other sequentially actuatedmachine elements.

Other objects are to effect theioregoing results by preferablyelectrically controlled means. One way of efiecting the desired actionis by the passage of the ball through a light beam crossing the alleyand activating a photo-electric cell which is included in an electricalcontrol system or circuit for controlling the actuation of and causingthe guard to be lowered within a relatively short predetermined time,preferably instantly as a result of the passage of a ball through saidlight beam; and also to provide in such an electric circuit, means forproducing a time delay of selected duration associated with thephoto-electric cell to efiect actuation of the machine cycle at aselected time interval after the guard has been lowered.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in' view, theinvention consists in certain combinations which will be hereinafterfully described, and forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, and form a part of this specification, and in which likecharacters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Fig. l is a side elevation, partly in section, showing a bowling pinsetting machine embodying the invention Fig. 2 'is'a fragmentary.sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, illustrating portions of theguard and sweep 0f the machine in lowered, operative position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section taken approximatelyon line 3-3 of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale. s

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section, viewedapproximately on line 4-4 of Fig. 2. 1

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view, on an enlarged scale, illustrating aportion of the top of the machine as seen in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical transverse section taken approximately onthe line 6-5 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section of an upper partof the machine, on an enlarged scale and partly "broken away, as viewedin'the direction of the line 1-1 of Fig. 1'1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section, on an enlargedscale, illustrating part of the mechanism for raising balls-out of thepit or the machine. 1

Figs. '9 and were respectively longitudinal and transverse elevations ofpart of the mechanism shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 1'1 is a fragmentary transverse vertical 3 section, viewed from therear of Fig. 1, illustrating certain cams and the levers actuatedthereby. Figs. 12 and 13 are views of cams in Fig. 11 as seen on linesI2|2 and 13-13 respectively, of

that figure.

Fig. 14 is a diagram illustrating an electrical system and theelectronic and electric elements or controlling devices therein, theirwiring connections, and certain elements of the machine with which thoseparts are associated.

A bowling pin setting machine in which the improvements concerned in thepresent invention are embodied is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in association with a bowling alley of standard form, a rearportion only of which is shown.

The bowling pin setting machine illustrated is of the general typedescribed and illustrated in Rundell patents, Nos. 2,383,017, grantedAugust 21, 1945, and 2,388,707, granted November 13, 1945. It is to beunderstood, however, that the subject matter forming the presentinvention can readily be used on other types of machines.

The alley, Figs. 1-3, includes the bed A, gutters B at opposite sidesthereof and a pit C beyond the rear of the bed into which balls andfelled or swept pins are received. On the rear of the bed A is the usualzone D within which a set of pins P are arranged for play. Laterally ofthis zone and outside the gutters B side walls or kickbacks E aredisposed, the front ends of which descend and merge into low side railsR. and R which extend to the front (not shown) of the alley.

The pin setting mechanism is supported on a stationary frame F, Fig. 1,including opposite upright side posts or channels 38 fixed at theirlower ends on top of the walls E. Secured to the tops of the posts 38are upper longitudinal side channels or rails 32 and spaced betweenthese are channe1 rails 34. The front ends of rails 32 and 34 aresecured to a transverse top channel 38, while the rear ends of thesechannels connect with a frame section including upright brackets 38.

These brackets rest on side members 48 and a rear cross member 42, Figs.9 and 10. The back portions of the brackets 38 connect the foregoingframe assembly to the upper portion of a transverse upright, rear framesection 46, Fig. 1, which rests upon the floor in rear of the pit C.

Spaced between this frame section 48 and the tailboard 48 at the rear ofthe alley there is a suitable upright cushion structure 49 forming theresilient back wall of the pit by which thrown balls and rearwardlyimpelled pins may be arrested and directed into the pit C.

The guard, designated as a whole by the numeral 58, includes twoopposite side arms 52 each of which has its upper or rear end pivoted at53 to a, bracket 54 on the adjacent upright channel member 38 of theframe F, Fig. 1. Each arm 52 extends longitudinally of a gutter B at thecorresponding side of the alley A. In the full line position shown inFig. 1, the guard is in its upp r or inoperative position wherein theguard and the sweep unit carried thereby are above the alley bed so thatplay may proceed.

Each arm 52 at its forward end has at its extremity a rubber foot 56,which, when the guard is lowered, rests in the gutter as indicated inbroken lines in Figs. 1 and 2.

Connected to and extending between the forward portions of the guard isa rail or bumper 58 4 which may comprise a suitable rigid transversetube or bar enveloped in a rubber cushion.

In the lowered position of the guard, the bumper 58 extends horizontallyacross and parallel with the alley bed in a plane such that ballstravelling along the alley will be arrested thereby. Damage to thesetting and resetting table, when lowered, or to other parts of themachine is thus prevented.

Fastened to the forward end of each guard arm 52 is a block 68 in eachof which a transverse horizontal stub shaft 82 is secured, see Figs. 2and 4. These shafts 82 are in alignment and each projects beyond theouter face of its supporting block 88.

An annular sleeve 84, Fig. 4, rotatably carried on the projectingportion of each shaft has secured about it a plate 88. The upper ends ofthe plates 65 are swivelled to clips 88 connected to the forward ends ofcables 18 by which the guard 58 and a sweep S mounted thereon are raisedand lowered, in a manner to be explained.

' Each shaft 52 also rotatably supports a sprocket wheel 12 alongsidethe sleeve 84 and about which is engaged an endless sprocket chain I4.The sweep S is actuated to move rearwardly over the zone D of the alleyA to clear the latter and return forwardly to inoperative position byoperation of the two chains 14.

The lower run of each chain I4 travels in outwardly facing, longitudinalchannel bars or tracks 18 the forward ends of which are fixed to thelower ends of the plates 58. The rear ends of tracks 16 are pivoted bystub shafts H to the lower ends of supporting links 18, Fig. 1, theupper ends of which pivot on brackets 88 fixed to a suitable part of theframe.

Each chain 14, passing to the rear through its track 18, engages about asprocket 84 rotatably supported on the associated stub shaft 11. Thechains I4 then extend forwardly to and operatively engage sprockets 86and 88 and thence complete their path by return to sprockets 12.

The sprockets 86, see Fig. 2, may be carried on adjustable slides 89mounted on brackets 98, one of which is fixed on each guard arm 52. Themovable slides enable sprockets 86 to be adjusted to take up slack inchains 14.

The other sprockets 88 are fixed on the opposite ends of a transversehorizontal shaft 92 extending between and journalled in the two brackets98. At the outer side of one of the brackets 98 the shaft 92 carries asprocket 94 of the same diameter as the adjacent sprocket 88 and whichis driven by a sprocket chain 98, whereby both sweep chains 14 operatein unison.

The sweep S may comprise a pair of opposed pendant side arms I88,connected by a pair of spaced horizontal rods I82, Fig. 2. The arms arepositioned above and in line with the gutters B.

The sweep rods I82 are so located, that when the sweep is lowered andactuated they will engage and sweep into the pit any felled pins or anyfelled and standing pins, as the need arises.

Depending from and fixed to the lower ends of the arms 188 are shoesI84, which when the sweep is lowered, enter the gutters B, and as thesweep is moved rearwardly, sweep any pins P in the gutters towards orinto the pit C. The form of the shoes I84 is such that an accumulationof pins in a gutter B will be readily broken up, thus avoiding jamming.

To effect operation of sweep S by the sweep chains 14, the upper end ofeach arm I88 is pivotally mounted on a laterally projecting pin i88,

see Fig. 4, substituted for of the link-eonnecting pivots of the chain'14. Pin I08 carries a pair of rollers I I! one of which is arranged ateach side of the chain and bears against the flanges of thecorresponding channel or track 16. A flange of each track 18 may have aninwardly offset longitudinal rib I I2 to extend between and retain therollers on the tracks.

The sweep S may be yielda'bly retained in its upright operative positionby spring controlled rods 116 one of which is pivoted to each arm I andto a. pivot I, Fig. 2, of the associated sweep chain 14. Pivot I28carries a pair of rollers I22, similar to rollers I'I0, rimming in thead acent track 16. The springs on rods Hi can yield to enable the sweepS to-move rearwardly upon unintended engagement of the front of thesweep by a ball, or when a shoe I04 might come to rest on a felled pin,as occasionally happens.

The length of the channels or tracks 16 is suc that when-the sweep S islowered with the guard 50, the chains 14 can carry the sweep along thealley A from its full-line forward position to its rear dotted lineposition at the end of the alley, Fig. l, where the chain travel isarrested.

After sweeping pins, or pins and balls into the pit C the mechanism fordriving the chains 14 is reversed to return the sweep S to its forwardinactive position.

4 The mechanism for driving chain 96 for actuat ns the sweep to and frowi l be described r- Pins and balls deposit d in t e p t 0 come t restupon an apron I30; Fig. 1, formed of a rectangular sheet of suitablefabric or other flexible or resilient'material,

The construction and operation of apron I3i0 may, in general, besubstantially the same as shown in the Schmidt Patent 2,389,643, issuedNovember 27, 1945.

The front edge of the apron I30 is secured about a transverse rod orlifting member I 32 which, in lower position, extends across the frontof the pit with its ends projecting into the lower ends of opposedupright guideways or channels I34 arranged at the inner faces of thesidewalls E. The apron extends rearwardly from the lifting bar I32 acrossthe floor .of the pit IC and th upwardly along the front of the cushionstructure 49. The rear edge of the apron terminates adjacent the top ofthe cushion; structure where it is preferably attached. to a windingroll I36. The ends of the roll are. formed with journals rotatablysupported in bearings I30. One of the ends or journals of roll Iiiextendsthrough its bearing and there carries a sprocket I 39 engaged bya sprocket chain I40 by which the roll may be rotated to wind up orunwind the apron.

Extending crosswise of the rear portion of the pit C is a ball lift rodor member I44 which, in its lower position, rests on the apron I30 atsuch distance in front of the portion of the apron extending upwardlyagainst the cushion that a ball may rest on rod I44 and ag inst thatapron part.

Rod. I44 is spaced from the cushion 49 a distance less than the diameterof a ball. but greater than the maximum diameter of a pin. By thisarrangement any pin or pins tending tobe lifted by the rod I44 will dropdownwardly between rod I44 and cushion 49 back into the pit, therebypre-' venting jamsbreakage of parts, and interference with th removal oa bal from t machine- Thus by upward movement of the rod I44 in a planesubstantially parallel with the face of said cushion 49 the ball onlymay be elevated or rolled upwards until it is'located'above the windingroll I". Continued upward'movemcnt elm rod I44 will cause can to beurged to the rear over the roll I where'it is received on suitableinclined tracks I46 for transverse deliveryto a side of the for returnalong a nae of the alley A- to the player, in a well-knownnam .ner y"The opposite ends of the rod 114- extend Into upright guides orchannels M8 on the side Movement of the bar III-and the ball-lift rodI44 intheir guides my be effected by use of flexible cables I50 andtil-secured to slides on the opposite of elements I82 and I44respectively, and operating in the respective channels. The pairs ofcables I54 and I are actuated by mechanism-under control ofelectricaldevioes in accordance with this invention.

as will be described.

The type of machine selected for illustmting a preferred embodiment ofthis invention is myid'ed with an automatic spotting and respottingtable, an example of which is indicated-at T; 1. Since the presentinvention does not concern itself with the construction or operation Mthe table'T, such will be only briefly alluded-to. The pin setting andresetting table T, is similar in construction andop'erationto that shownthe above referred to mindell Patent 2,383,011, includes upper and lowerhorhontol plates or sections I60 between which areananged a group of tenpick-up and respottlng elements I62. At proper intervals the table andelements I 52 are lowered to grip standing pins P on the alley bed. Thetable and gripped pinsam then above the pin zone D to enable the'aone tobe cleared of deadwood by thesweepdcvioo. The table T is again loweredand replaces the picked-up pins in their former positions-on alley andmoves up again to allow further play. After removal of deadwood from thealley the table T is rotated to a relatively inverted position aboutpivots I04 to face spotting cups I36 thereon downwardly. Then openlowering the table again a set of pins P in those cups may be releasedand placed in playing position in the zone D on the alley.

'By again elevating table T and rotating ltback to its former positionplay may proceed. I

The table T may be suitably supported for the foregoing up and downmovements, by mounting pivots I64 at its opposite sides in carriagesII-1 slidable up and down in the side channels III of the frame F underthe action of cables I60, operated by mechanism (not shown) such as'heretobefore used. a

It has already been stated that the actuation and control of the guard50, sweep S, the apron lifting member I32, and the ball lift rod I 44-are effected, in accordance with this invention, 'as'a result of thepassage of a thrown ball through a beam of light directed to thelight-receivingelement of a. photo-electric cell or device.

Such a photo-electric element, represented generally at I10, Fig. 3, isdisposed in a casing I12 preferably mounted in the side rail R of" thealley so as to be flush with its inner wall. Direetly across the alleyfrom the element I10; and mounted in a casing I14 preferably located inthe opposed side rail R is a source of light, suchas a lamp I10, bywhich a beam of light X of uniform cross section may be directed acrossthe alley to impinge on and activate the cell I10, see Figs. 3 and 14.

The light beam X must, of course,' be disposed .the cable is fastened at232.

mounted on a transverse shaft 234 stationarily 7 below the horizontalplane along which the top of a ball travels in order that the ball maybreak the beam and interrupt its action on the photocell I10.

The photo-cell I10 and the light source I16 are incorporated. in thecombined electronic and electrical system or circuit shown in Fig. 14.This system also includes other electrical elements, such as switchesand solenoids and also the motor M used as a source of power for thecyclic operation of several parts of the pin settingmachine. Certain ofthese electrical elements are used to control mechanisms which operatethe guard and sweep, the pit apron and the ball lift device, and suchelements will be disclosed as the respective operating mechanisms aredescribed. The electrical circuit or system will be described later indetail in connection with a cycle of operation of the machine.

To effect the desired movements of the guard 80 and the sweep S, theball lifting rod I44 and the apron raising and lowering bar I32, ahorizontal cam shaft 100, Fig. 13, is positioned transversely across therear of the machine at the top thereof, being journaled in bearings I82mounted on the brackets 38. This shaft has secured thereon a pluralityof cams for actuating a number of the instrumentalities of the machine,but only those cams used in operating the above mentloned elements areshown in the drawings, see Figs. 1 and 11. v A combined sweep and guardcam I84 is mounted on shaft I80 and one face of which cam ing power fromthe motor M between which and hub 200 any suitable mechanism including agear box or reducing mechanism 202, Fig. 1,

may be arranged to drive hub 200 at a desired speed. Between gear box202, the gears of which may rotate constantly, and the gear hub 200, aclutch (not shown) may be interposed to start and stop cam shaft I80 atthe start and end of an operating cycle.

In rear of and below shaft I88 is a lever supporting shaft 206 mountedin bearings on brackets 30. Rotatably mounted on and relatively to thisshaft are levers 208, 210, 2 I 2 which carry cam ,rollers H6, 2 I8 and220 respectively engaging the sweep cam, guard cam and apron cam abovementioned.

For raising and lowering the combined guard 50 and sweep S the guardactuating lever 2 I 0 has secured to its upper end a pulley 226, Figs.and 11, about which passes a cable 228 the rear end of which is fastenedto the lever 2H). This cable 228 passes forwardly intermediate the sidesof the machine into a groove 22!] of a quadrant shaped member 230 towhich the front end of Member 230 is supported on the top longitudinalintermediate frame members 34. Associated with the member 230 is asuitable hydraulic braking device 236 a portion of which comprises thehollow hub of member 230 in which is arranged a suitable vane elementsecured on the shaft 234 so that as relative movement between member 230and the shaft 234 occurs, fluid within the hub or casing of member 230-can be compressed, offering resistance to slow down the movement of themember 230. The hydraulic shock absorber or brake above mentioned, is ofa type well-known in commerce, and the details of construction thereofare deemed unnecessary.

The member 230 has alongside the groove 229 a similar groove 240 inwhich the rear portion of a cable 242 is arranged and the end of whichis secured to member 230 at 244. The cables 228 and 242 thus act onmember 230 in opposite directions.

Cable 242 extends forwardly from member 230 into a groove of a sheave246 fixed on a shaft 248 mounted in bearings 250 on top of the frame.Cable 242 passes downwardly from sheave 245 and operatively engages in agroove in a sheave 252 mounted on a shaft 254 extending crosswise of themachine and supported in bearings 258 on the side members 32 and anintermediate member 34. The front end portion of cable 242 passes aroundsheave 252 and is connected to it at 288.

Upon reference to the plan view Fig. 5, it will be seen that shaft 254has mounted at its opposite extremities and at the outer sides of theframe members 32, sheaves 280. Secured to these and passing aroundperipheral grooves therein are the upper end portions of the cables 10,before mentioned, which operatively support the guard 58 and sweep S inthe manner described.

In the upper position of the guard and sweep the lever 2 I0 extendsrearwardly, its cam engaging roller 2 I8 being out of engagement withthe guard cam I90. The lever is yieldingly held in this position by acoil spring 264, Fig. 11, surrounding the shaft 208 with one of its endsconnected to the hub of the lever 2m and its other end secured in afixed collar 266 on shaft 208. The lever can be yieldingly retained thussince at this time no forward pull is exerted upon it by cable 228.

To enable the guard and sweep to be supported in said upper positionwith the operating parts occupying the relation shown in Fig. '1, one ofthe sheaves 260 has fixed to and projecting outwardly therefrom a stud210 with which the free end 212 of one arm of a latch or bell cranklever 214 pivoted on the frame at 216 releasably engages in a manner toprevent rotation of sheaves 260 by the gravitational pull of the guardand sweep on the cables 10.

The other end of the bell crank lever 214 is pivotally connected at 218to the core of a solenoid 280 mounted on the adjacent frame member Thepassage of a ball along the alley through and breaking the light beam X,causes activation of the photocell I10, effecting the instantaneous andmomentary actuation of solenoid 280, the result of which swings the bellcrank 214 in a direction to disengage its end 212 from the stud 210 onsheave 260. This results in the immediate gravitational descent of theguard 50 with sweep S thereon into engagement with the alley. Thisaction is quick enough to insure that the guard is lowered at or aboutthe time that the ball passes into the zone D occupied by the pins. Itis thus impossible for any pins knocked down by that ball to have timein which to bounce or walk forwardly to a position beyond guard 80.

While a photoelectric cell detector, such as described is the preferredmechanism for efiecting the quick movement of the. guard into opera.-tive. position relative to an alley, other types of detecting devicescan be used. For: example, we may employ a capacity operated relaysystem of the same general type as shown in Bancroft patent,No...2',305,652 for actuating solenoid 280. In this case spaced.capacity control-ling, members can be. located transversely of the alleyand gutters a. suitable distance in front of the pin supporting bed ofthe alley; This distance can be substantially the same. as that used inconnection with the photoelectric cell detector shown and describedherein.

In. lowering the guard and sweep, as explained, the cables will unwindwith respect to the sheaves 260 but overrunning of these sheaves will beprevented by the concomitant winding up of cable 242 about sheave 252,while at the same time. the pull on cable 2 3 2 by the released guardand sweep causes brake member 23% to swing about; its shaft 234 in aforward direction.

At the same time the front portion of cable 228 will be wound up onbrakemember 230' thereby pulling lever 2I0 forward to its dotted lineposition shown in Fig. 7 where its roller no will pass into operativerelation with guard cam i90 The roller will then be positioned beneatha. projection 282 of that cam. As the guard and sweep descend, thebrakemember no rotating as a. lever inaccordance with the pullthereon by thecable 242, causes the shock absorber element 236. to progressively gointo action so that just prior to the engagement of the feet. 56. of theguard-with the gutters B, the downward travel of the guard and sweepwill bev slowed down to such an extent that the. guard will gentlyengage in the gutterswith a minimum of noise andshoclc. Objectionabledistraction caused by crashing noises of an abrupt engagement. of theguard A with the alley is thus avoided and the life of the guard andits. actuating and controlling mechanism is thereby prolonged.

In bowling pin setting and resetting machines of the type underconsideration, the guard and sweep remain in lowered positionthroughout. a relatively long period of a cycle of operation. Theseparts are supl rted in upper position until a ball is thrown, afterwhich the guard and sweep. drop and remain in lowered position duringsweeping and setting or resetting operations after which they are raisedto upper position pending the throwing of the next balls After a ball isrolled and the guard and sweep are lowered, as just described, devicesinthe electrical system cause. a delay approaching for example, one tofour seconds, before appropriate electrical elements are actuated tocouple the pinion I98 to the gear box 202 to revolve the cam shaft I80.When this occurs, guard cam I30 rotates in the direction indicated,whereby, its main peripheral portion moves over the roll 2I8 of lever2"]. The time interval during which it is required that the guard andsweep remain lowered will near its end as the projection 282. of cam 90moves into operative relation with leverroller 2I8. This part 282 willthen act on roller M8 to shift lever 2I0 to its rearmost positionthereby raising the guard and sweep through the cables and connectionsdescribed and release lever 2I0 at the appropriate time. Asv this actionoccurs, the stud 2-10 on sheave 260 will move past the latch or lever214 which will snap into locking relation to the stud to thereby holdthe guard and sweep, in upper position.

19 Lever no will be retained" in. its real-most position free of cam Iunder action of the. coil spring 2.64, as previously described.

As stated earlier, the chains 14 upon. which the sweep is mounted aredriven by means of an endless. sprocket. chain 96- which Passesforwardly over the drive sprocket 84 on cross-shaft, 82.

Chain 96- extends rearwardly about a sprocket 290- secured on one of thestub shafts 53, the lat. ter also carrying adjacent sprocket 230,, a.smaller sprocket 292, Fig- 1. This latter sprocket has engaging about itan endless; sprocket chain 294 which, at its upper and. passes about alarger sprocket 298. fixed on the outer end of shaft 248 at the top ofthe machine.

Also secured on shaft 248 is a gear pinion 298, Fig. 6, with whichmeshes a rack bar 300. This bar is. fixed to the forward end of a. sweeprod 302 coupled at its rear end to the upp r free, end of the sweeplever no on shaft 206 as described. The rack bar 300. may be held inoperative relation to pinion. 291i by rollers 304 carried on a member 3%swivel-mounted on. the Shaft. 248. cm follower 21:6 carried by lever 208enters the camgroove I88 of the sweep camon cam shaft 180.

The action of sweep cam; I88v is such that, after a ball has beenthrown, and the guard and sweep have; been. lowered, cam I" will causesweep lever 208, through the. described connections, to: advance therack bar 300, thereby rototing pinion 2138. and sprocket ZSIi'andthrough chains. 224 and 96 andthe associated connections will rotatesprocket 94 and shaft 92 to cause rearward travel of the lower runs. ofchains 14 in their tracks 1.6 to enable sweep S to clear the alley.After the sweep S. has. reached the. end of its rearward travel thesweep cam I88 will have moved to. a position where its: continuedrotation will cause rearward action of rack bar 300 and reversal oftravel of chains [4 to return the sweep S to its forward position. Itwill stay in this position during the remaining interval in which theguard 30; rests on the alley, and during the time in which the guardmoves to and remains in upper position. This at-rest positionlspermitted by the relatively long concentric portion of cam groove I88,see Fig. 13'.

After a ball has been thrown and the ball and pins have been swept intoor have otherwise entered the pit C, the ball usually rolls rearwardlyacross the apron I30 where it comes to rest on the ball lift rail I44and against the upright rear portion of the apron I30. It is necessaryto operate bar I44 to remove the ball from the pit prior to the raisingof the apron I30 which elevates and dumps pins to the rear downwardlybetween tracks I46 into pin receiving chamber C for ultimate delivery tospotters I66 by conveying mechanism (not shown), which may be similar tothat shown in Rundell Patent 2,388,707. Should a ball fail to reach thedescribed position, the rod I44 will be elevated without the ball.However the ball will subsequently be carried up by apron I30 and dumpedwith the pins.

The cables I52 by which the ball rod I44 is actuated pass upwardly outof the guides I48 over rollers 3| 0 on side rails 4.0 and thence torollers 3I2 carried on peripherally grooved cable winding and unwinding,sheaves. 314. One of. these sheaves is. mounted adjacent, each sideframe on a cross shaft 3I'6 the ends of which are iournalled in hearingson the top rails .34 of those side frame members.

The ends of cables I52 are secured to the respective sheaves.

Intermediate the sheaves 3I4, the shaft 3I6 has secured to it a pinion3I8 with which meshes an upwardly directed rack bar 320 mounted in amanner similar to the rack bar 300, before mentioned, and which, at itslower end, is pivoted to a crank arm 322 fixed to a shaft 324. On thisshaft, see Fig. 8, is a sprocket wheel 326 about which an endless chain328 passes and leads thence about a sprocket wheel 330. Sprockets 326and 330 are in the ratio of 2:1. The sprocket 330 is operativelyconnected to one section of a one-revolution clutch 332 which, incoupled position, operatively connects the sprocket 330, by means of atoothed disc 334, to a constantly driven shaft 335 passing through thehub of the drive sprocket 330, a bearing in the adjacent bracket 38 andthrough the hollow hub portion 200 of the drive pinion I90.

The hub 200 of pinion I98 is driven at a desired speed under clutchcontrol, from the gear box 202, as has been stated. The shaft 336passing through that hub is operatively connected to and constantlydriven from the gear box 202 but at a different speed such that thesheaves 3I4 may be timed to wind up cables I52 to cause rod I44 toelevate and dump a ball to the rear and then continue upwardly until itreaches and comes to rest at a position clear of the upper position towhich the bar I32 of apron I30 is subsequently raised. By thearrangement of the parts of the mechanism operatively associated withthe ball lifting rod I44, its action, through gear box 202 and theone-revolution clutch 332 is such that crank arm 322 by its engagementwith pinion 3I0, causes sheaves 3 I4 to rotate in a direction to raisethe ball lifting rod I44. This action occurs through one-half of arevolution of crank arm 322 as a result of one operation of theone-revolution clutch 332.

Another operation of that clutch effects continued operation of thecrank arm 322 whereby it continues through its other half-revolution.This effects a reverse movement of rack bar 320 and a correspondingrotation of sheaves 3 in an opposite direction whereby the ball lift rodI44 is returned to its lower position.

In operation, the timing of the mechanism just described is such thatthe ball lifting rod I44 r is elevated to its maximum height before therotation of the cam shaft I80 through gear I96 and its drive pinion I98has been started. It is also desirable that the ball lift rod I44 betimed to follow the return of the apron I30 to the bottom of the pit.Thus the sheaves 3 I4 should only operate during a portion of a timecycle of the machine, the clutch 332 being uncoupled for the rest of thecycle.

To close the clutch 332 to start the rotation of sprocket 330 at theappropriate time, a solenoid 340, see Figs. 9 and 10, is arranged in acircuit in the electrical system, being mounted on the frame member 42adjacent clutch 332. The core of the solenoid 340 is connected to alatch 342 pivoted at 344 to a bracket on the frame.

The latch 342 is yieldingly urged by a spring 346 towards the clutch 332to releasably retain a shoulder thereon in position to lock the drivenpart 334 of the clutch against rotation and To raise and lower the apronbar I32 the cables I50 attached thereto are operatively connected tosheaves 34I secured on opposite ends of a transverse horizontal shaft343 supported in bearings on the top members 34 of the frame.Intermediate the sheaves 34I the shaft 343 carries a pinion 345 which isengaged by a rack bar 343 connected at its rear end to the upper end oflever 2 I2.

Movement of lever 2I2 rearwardly from the position indicated in Fig. 1,through action of its cam follower 220 in cam I92 causes, through thedescribed connections, clockwise rotation of the sheaves 34I resultingin winding of the cables I60 about sheaves 34I and the lifting of thefront portion of apron I30 through bar I32. The chain I40 operativelyconnected to the apron winding roll I36, as has been described, passesat its upper end around a sprocket 349 secured on an end of shaft 343.It will thus be seen that as sheaves 34I are rotated in one direction oranother rotation of sprocket 349 will. through chain I40, also rotateapron winding roll I39 in corresponding directions. Thus as apron barI32 moves upwardly, for example, with the attached apron I30, thewinding roll I39 will also rotate to wind up the rear portion of theapron. These simultaneous operations are such that the winding roll I39will wind the apron so as to draw it taut between roll I39 and bar I32,and since bar I32 is elevated to a position considerably above roll I39,the wound-up, taut apron will extend downwardly towards the rear tothereby enable pins thereon to slide downwardly behind the cushionstructure 49.

As the apron bar I 32 reaches its upper position cam follower 220 willmove into a reversed curve portion I94a of cam groove I94, see Fig. 12,whereby bar I32 is given a slight downward and upward movement to jogany pins remaining on the apron off to the rear. Cam track portion I94a,see Fig. 12, is disposed between opposed portions of the track I94 whichare formed to effect alternating up and down motions of apron lift barI32.

It will be seen from Fig. 12 that during approximately one-half of therevolution of cam member I92 the cam follower 220 travels in aconcentric portion of the cam groove I94, which connects with theopposed parts of the cam groove effecting the up and down movements ofthe bar I32. During this interval the sheaves 34I remain stationary.This interval is, of course, timed so that the apron I30 remains at restat the bottom of the pit during a part of the machine cycle in whichplay takes place.

In addition to the gentle engagement of the guard 50 with the gutters Bpreviously described, other advantages are obtained by the improvedguard and sweep raising and lowering means which have been alluded to.

In general, former constructions have included a single central camoperated cable for raising and lowering the guard. The front end of sucha cable has been connected to laterally extending or transverse cablesattached to the sides of the guard. It has been found difficult tomaintain equilibrium with such an arrangement, as the guard would notremain square or true with the alley bed, one side of the guard beingfrequently higher or lower than the other side.

In the present case, since the guard is supported at its sides by twocables 10 disposed in vertical planes which wind and unwind in unison onsheaves 260 of substantial size connected to a single shaft, the guardis always supported in a um-cs 113 true relation to the alley. Inaddition, the use of the brakedevice 230 with which cables operate inopposite directions, affords a better control for the lowering of theguard and the sweep. Such a brake structure used in connection with thequick release of the sheaves 260 by actuation of the solenoid 230enables rapid, and withal, easy and gentle descent of the guard andsweep.

The wiring diagram Fig.1! will'now be described in connection with thevarious electronic and electrical controls orelements and the'wiringconnections thereto. 1 I I A series of pairs of conductors for supplyingcurrent of selected or required voltage to various parts of the circuitare provided and which receive current supply from any suitable sources(not shown). a

For example, lines 359 and 35! convey current to the guard releasesolenoid 280 and to the ball lift solenoid 340. Another pair o1conductors 354 and 356 supplies current to the normally continuouslyrunning motor M and to a sequence control box 358; The sequence controlmay be 01 the same general type as shown in co-pending Broekhuysenapplication Ser. No. 627,605, filed November 9, 1945 for Bowling PinSetting Machine,- now Patent 2,559,274, granted July 3, 1951. Itcontains a rotating timing device which successively operates: a seriesof switches and 'relays or other electricaLdevices. to be set intoaction, in proper sequence, starting operations of a plurality of the:mechanical and other units in the machine, which, since they form nospecific part of the present invention, are not described or shownherein. However one of the elements. contained in the control box 358 isa switch or device which, at the proper time, operates the clutchpreviously mentioned, disposed between the gear box 202 and the hub 200of pinion I98 to start the rotation of the cam shaft I80. Preferably theforegoing is brought-into action at the proper time by the closing of aswitch 383 mounted on the bracket 54 in front of one of the framemembers 30. Switch 383 is connected to the sequence control byconductors 380 and 382. The switch 383 is so positioned that it isclosed when one of the guard side arms 52 reaches. its lower positionand engages that switch, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l. Theswitch remains closed as long as the guard is down and automaticallyopens. as soon. as the guard arm 52 moves out of contact therewith. I

In this way pinion I93 remains in running condition for rotating camshaft I80 as long as the guard is down, the resulting time intervalbeing of such duration as to effect one complete revolution of shaft E80and the cams thereon before the guard. is raised.

Current for the photocell unit [70 and for the various electronic andelectric units contained in a box indicated at 360 is provided throughsupply lines 362 and 364. Filament current for the light source I16 maybe provided through lines366 and 368.

Assuming that the ball has passed through and broken the light beam X.between light source I16. and photo-tube I10, or that the beam X hasbeen otherwise interrupted, the consequent decrease in light to thephoto-cell or; tube H0 causes a reduction in the voltageacrossresistance R2 connected between current line 364 and a grid T29 of anamplifier tube T2. The reduction in voltage across resistance R2 efiectsa decrease inthe platev current of the amplifier tube T2.- Plate T21: oftube T2 is connected to resistance R4 and to one side of a condenser C5.The other side 0! the condenser C5 is joined to one end of a rmsistanceR5 which has its opposite end connected to the line 364. The decrease inplate current of tube T2 efl'ects a decrease in voltage acrossresistance R4 with sufficient rapidity to develop a relatively steepwavefront. I

- 'Also located in relay unit box 380 is a timetron tube T4. Theintegrating circuit of com denser C5 and resistance R5 produces '0. peakat the control grid T49 of the thym tron T4, thereby actuating it. Whenthyratron tube T4 is thus triggered, current flows from the line 362 toand througha normally closed ball clutch limit switch 31!) adjacentshaft M6 by way of line 312. A branch from line 312 conducts current tothe plate T41) 01' thyratron tube T4, passing thence by way of cathodeT4c of tube T4 to a relay CR], resistance R3, an resistance R8 to theline 364.

Relay CRI being thus energized, its contacts 314 are closed to enable.current to flow from line 350 through guard release solenoid 233, thenthrough line 316, contacts 314 and line "Ito line 352 connected intoline 35], thus closing a circuit which energizes the guard release sole.

noid 280.

In this way the stud 210 on the sheave 233 is released, enabling theguard 50 and the sweep S to immediately descend by the unwinding ofcables 10, as has been explained. a

It is then that the switch 383 is closed by a guard arm 52 to initiate.the sequence control 358 whereby the cam shaft I starts to rotate atthe desired time in accordance witha selected interval between closingof switch 38! and the subsequent actuation of the elements in thesequence control that become operative to release the one-revolutionball litt clutch 332-. As stated, a time delay is required after thepassage of a ball through the light beam X to enable the ball to reachthe pit and the sweep S on the lowered guard to sweep the alley andreturn to its inoperative position. This is nec essary to make sure thatthe ball and the desired pins have all been deposited in the pit C-before the ball elevating rod I44 and then the apron bar I32 are startedin their upward travel; This time delay may be selected'as preferablyfrom approximately oneto four seconds. l

This time delay may be effected as follows. When current flows throughrelay CRI and resistance R6, as described above, voltage is impressedacross' a resistance R1 and a condenser Cl connected in series. Thevoltage across co'ndenser Cl rises exponentially with time, effecting atime delay determined by the time re-- quired for the juncture ofresistance R! and condenser G1,. which is connected to the control gridT59 of a thyratron tube T5, to equal the potential of the cathode T50 ofthat thyra-' tron tube.

This time delay is adjustable within the one second to four secondsrange mentioned (or any other desired time delay period within the capacity of the elements concerned) by varying the potential of screen TEsof thyratron T5. This may be efiected by manipulation of a potentiometerRB- operatively connected in the circult which includes the control gridT59.

When thyratron T5 is triggered, current.

flows from line: 362 through the ball clutch switch 310, thence throughline 312, relay CR2;

plate Tip, cathode T50, a resistance RIO, potentiometer R9, andresistance R8 to the line 394.

Relay CR2 has associated therewith, contacts 344 which also close toenable current from line 359 to reach the bail lift solenoid 340 andthen pass through line 386, contacts 384, to the line 352 and to line I.

When the solenoid 340 is energized, the onerevolution clutch 332operates, as explained, to effect rotation of sheaves 3I4 for elevatingball rod I44 by cables I52. The ball is discharged over apron windingroll I39 to the rear of the upright cushion structure 49 by the rod I44which continues to and remains for the desired period in its upperposition.

After this has occurred, the apron I3Il may be raised, in the mannerheretofore disclosed, under the electrically controlled means provided.

While the shaft 3I6 is rotating to effect the a ball lifting operation,as just explained, a cam 386 mounted on the ball lift sheave shaft 3I6engages, at the proper time, an arm or extension 398 of the ball liftclutch switch 310 in a direction to open the switch contacts. Thisaction breaks the current flowing from line 362 to 312, relay CR2, andplate T5p of tube T5 and the plate current of tube T4 and allows thesetubes to deionize and then reset themselves for the next cycle.

The cam 383 is fashioned so that its concentric switch-engaging portionis of sufficient length to hold switch 310 open for a substantialperiod. After this period the cam runs free of the switch, allowing itto close so that the circuit in which the deionized electronic tubes areincluded will be operative for the next cycle.

Meanwhile the cycle of the machine has progressed so that the parts arenow in a position wherein apron cam I92 will have shifted into positionto swing lever 2I2 rearwardly, thereby pulling rack 348 with it androtating pinion 345 on shaft 343 in a direction to rotate sheaves 34I toeffect the winding up of apron cables I30. This action results in upwardmovement of apron rod I32 carrying with it the apron I30 and the pinsthereon. Simultaneously with this action the sprocket chain I will beoperated through the rotation of shaft 343 to cause apron roll I39 towind up the rear portion of the apron. This operation is so timed thatthe apron will be drawn taut between the roller I39 and rod I32. Thelatter will, eventually, be elevated to a point above roller I39 so thatthe taut apron I39 will be tilted downwardly to the rear to enable pinsthereon to be discharged.

It will be seen in Fig. 14 that one of the apron sheaves 34I on shaft343 has a cam-like projection 399 which is positioned to actuate anormally open switch 394. Switch 394 has a resilient finger 392 engaginga stop when the switch isopen.

As the shaft 343 rotates sheaves 34I in clockwise direction to windapron cables I50, projection 399 will engage and flex finger 392 withoutaffecting the condition of switch 394.

However in rotation of shaft 343 and sheaves 34I in counterclockwisedirection for lowering the apron I30, the projection 390 will, at aselected time, engage finger 392 and move contacts of switch 394momentarily into closed position. This action causes current formerlyflowing through the circuit in which the now inactive tubes T4 and T5are included to now flow to the bail lii't solenoid 340 through adifferent circuit to eflect lowering of ball rod I44 after the apron hasbeen lowered. This circuit includes lines HI and 352, switch 394, line396, ball lift solenoid 349 and line 399. Thus the one revolution clutch332 is operated a second time at the proper moment to return the ballrod I44. The return travel of rod I44 is relatively rapid. Thus, if theapron. in being lowered, is crumpled or has not descended to its properposition in the pit C, it will be engaged by the descending rod I44 andforced thereby into its intended position across the bottom of the pit.

From the above detailed description it will be apparent that means andmechanism have been provided for accomplishing the objects of thepresent invention. Such detailed description and the language usedtherein are intended to be illustrative rather than limiting in natureinasmuch as it will be understood that modification and variations indetail may be resorted to by those skilled in the art within the scopeof the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a bowling pin setting machine adapted to .be positioned adjacentthe pin spotting zone and the pit of a bowling alley, pin and ballhandling mechanisms in said machine, a guard movable down and up to andfrom a position across said alley in front of said pin zone, mechanismfor raising said guard, a detector mounted in front of and adjacent saidpin spotting zone of said alley, mechanism operated by said detector asthe result of the movement of a ball therepast and substantiallysimultaneously with the movement of said ball into said zone enroute tosaid pit for effecting the movement of said guard to guarding positionadjacent said alley, and mechanism operable by said detector foractuating said pin and ball handling mechanisms of said pin settingmachine subsequently to the movement of said guard to guarding position.

2. In a bowling pin setting machine operativeiy disposed at an end of abowling alley whereon pins are arranged in a zone for play, a guardmovable downwardly from an inoperative position to an operative positionacross said alley in front of said pin zone, and then back to saidinoperative position, mechanism for raising said guard, a latch forreleasably locking said guard in up position, and an oscillatory shockabsorbing device, means for releasing said latch to allow said guard todrop to said operative position adjacent said alley, and connectionsbetween said guard and said shock absorbing device operable to rock saiddevice in a direction in which it asserts braking action to slow downthe movement of said guard as it approaches said alley to allow gentleengagement of said guard with said alley.

3. In a bowling pin setting machine operatively disposed relative to thepin supporting bed of an alley and adjacent the pit thereof, a guardmounted for movement upwardly from and downwardly into an operativeguarding position across said alley in front of said pin supporting bed,guard operating mechanism including means for securing said guard ininoperative position above said alley, and means for raising said guard,said mechanism comprising an electric circuit, a solenoid in saidcircuit, a device controlled by said solenoid for actuating saidfirstnamed means to release said guard for movement to said operativeposition, a photo-electric cell mounted at one side of said alley, asource of light mounted at the opposite side of said alley foractivating said cell, said photo-electric cell being connected in saidcircuit, and means operative in response to the interruption of saidsource of light to said cell by a rolling ball for closing said circuitand operating said device to actuate said first-named means to releasesaid guard for movement to said-operative position adjacent said alleyin front of said bed before pins felled by a thrown ball can moveforwardly beyond said guard.

4. In a bowling pinsetting machine operatively disposed for use with abowling alley upon which pins are arranged for play in a pin spottingzone, a guard and sweep device movable downwardly from an inoperativeposition to an operative uarding and sweeping position relative to saidalley in front of said pin zone, and then back to said inoperativeposition, actuating mechanism for said device including a latch operableto releasably lock said device in said inoperative position above saidalley, an electric circuit including a photo-electric cell, meansmounting said cell proximate one side of said alley in front "of saidzone, a light source for directing a light beam across said alley tosaid photo-electric cell, a normally inactive solenoid in said circuit oerativcly associated with said latch, and means operable by saidphoto-electric cell upon the passage of a ball through said beam intosaid pin zone to change the condition of said electric circuit andactuate said solenoid to release said latch thereby releasing saiddevice for movement to said operative osition across and adjacent saidalley. v

5. In a bowling pin setting machine for use with a bowling alley havinga pin supporting bed, a guard movable downwardly from an inoperativeposition above said alley to an operative guarding position in front ofsaid pin supporting bed, and then back to said inoperative position,guard actuating mechanism including a latch operable to releasably locksaid guard in inoperative position above said alley, an electric circuitincluding a photo-electric cell, means mounting said cell proximate oneside or said alley in front of said zone, a light source for directing alight beam across said alley to "said photo-electric cell, anorm-allyinactive solenoid in said circuit operatively associatedwithsaid latch, means operable by said photo-electric cell upon the passageof a ball through said beam into said pin zone to change the conditionof said electric circuit and actuate said solenoid to release saidlatch, thereby allowing said guard to move to its operative positionacross and adjacent said alley while fallen and any unwanted standingpins are removed from said alley, and means for activating said guardactuating mechanism after the removal of said pins from said alley toeffect the subsequent movement of said guard to said inoperativeposition. a

6. In a bowling pin spotting machine adapte to be disposed proximate thepit end of a bowling alley for setting and resetting pins upon a pinsupporting zone on the bed of said alley, a guard, means mounting saidguard for movement from an inoperative position above said alley to anoperative guarding position in front of said zone, guard operatingmechanism, control means operated in response to the rolling of abowling ball along said alley into said zone for actuating said m chamsmt e e t the movement of said 18 r guard into said guarding positionsubstantially simultaneously with the movement of said ball into saidzone, a sweep co-acting with said guard, means mounting said sweep formovement into is operative positioncadjacent said alley substantiallysimultaneously with the movement of said guard into said guardingposition, means for moving said sweep rearwardly of said guard alongsaid alley to sweep unwanted pins from "said bed into said pit, andmeans operable after the removal of said unwanted pins by said sweep rfor moving said sweep and guard to said inoperative position above saidalley pending the rolllog or the next ball of a frame.

15, 7. A bow-ling lpin spotting machine operatively disposed adjacentthe pit end of a bowling alley xw-heredn bins are arranged in a pinsupporting tone for play, comprising a guard and sweep "mounted formovement down from an inoperative position to an operative positionrelative to said alley, and then back to said inoperative position, aholding device for supporting said guard and sweep inlnoperativeposition above said alley, an electrical system, a detector connected insaid system, means mounting said detector in r ront of said pin zone forregistering the passage of an "object such as a bowling ball past saiddetector into said pin zone enroute to said pit, mechanism --in saidsystem actuated by said detector for incapacitatlng said holding device,whereby said i guard and sweep move into said operative osition saidball travels "towards sald pit, means "mounting said sweep on said guardand constructed and arranged to be carried up and down therewith, sweepoperating means for efiecting movement of said swee to sweep unwantedpins from said alley, a sweep operating control circult in said system,and time delay means in said "circuit operative after said guard hasreached said operative position and in response to the passage of apredetermined time interval for actuating said sweep operating means tostart sweeping action of said sweep.

8,111 a bowling pin setting machine operaevery disposed at an end or abowling alley whereon pills are arranged in a zone for play, a guard andsweep device movable down from an moperatiye position to an operativeposition across 'said alley in front of said pin zone, and then back tosaid inoperative position, a rotatable cam shaft, a cam thereon,actuating mechanism for 'said device cper'atlvel' connected between saidf cam and said device, a latch operable to releasably lock said devicein said ino erative position, an 53 electric system including a ballactuated detector positioned in the pain or travel of a ball upon saidalley in front of said pin zone, a normally open relay unit in saidsystem, a normally inactive solenoid c'peratively associated with saidlatch and operable upon closing said relay unit, means actuated by saiddetector in response to the movement oi a ball past said detector intosaid zone for energizing said relay unit and said solenoid to releasesaid latch, thereby allowing said device to move to its operativeposition across said alley, a switch operated by said device in responseto its movement to said operative position, 'a circuit having saidswitch therein, said circuit being actuated in response to the op-'eration of said switch, and said circuit having means therein foreffecting the rotation of said cam shaft and said cam, said cam beingconstructed and arranged for raising said device through operation ofsaid actuating means after 1a predetermined time delay, said latch beingop 19 erable to automatically relock said device upon its return to itsinoperative position.

9. In a bowling pin setting machine operativel disposed at an end of abowling alley whereon pins are arranged in a zone for play, a sweepingand guarding element movable down and up to and from a position acrosssaid alley in front of said pin zone, mechanism for operating saidelement including a latch for releasably locking said element in upposition, a photo-electric cell arranged in an electric circuit, a lightsource for projecting a light beam across said alley in front of saidpin zone for activating said photo-electric cell, and a solenoidassociated with said element latch, a relay in said photo-electric cellcircuit, means operated by said photo-electric cell upon decrease in theintensity of said light beam, as by the passage of a ball therethroughinto said pin zone, for energizing said relay and energizing saidsolenoid to release said latch, whereby said element can move to itsdown position in front of said pin zone substantially simultaneouslywith the passage of said ball through said pin zone and before pinsfelled by the ball can move forwardly beyond reach of said element.

10. In a bowling pin setting machine for use with a bowling alley havinga pin supporting zone whereon pins are arranged for play, a guard andsweep device movable down from an inoperative position to an operativeposition across said alley in front of said pin zone, and then back tosaid inoperative position, operating mechanism for operating said deviceincluding a latch for releasabl locking said device in up position, aphoto-electric cell arranged in an electric system, a light source forprojecting a light beam across said alley in front of said pin zone foractivating said photo-electric cell, a solenoid in said systemassociated with said device latch, means actuated by said photo-electriccell upon interruption of said light beam by passage of a balltherethrough for actuating said solenoid to release said latch, wherebysaid device moves substantially at once to guarding and sweepingposition in front of said pin zone as said ball moves into and throughsaid pin zone and before pins .felled by the ball can move forwardlybeyond reach of said device, a time delay device, and means controlledby said time delay device for operating said mechanism to raise saidguard and sweep device.

11. In a bowling pin setting machine operatively disposed at an end of abowling alley whereon pins are arranged in a zone for play, a guard andsweep device movable down and up to and from a position across saidalley in front of said pin zone, mechanism for raising said deviceincluding cables, one of which is connected at one end to said deviceand at the other end to rotatable winding mechanism to extend in onedirection therefrom, a second cable connected in an opposite directionto said winding mechanism and to an oscillatory shock absorbing deviceto extend in one direction therefrom, a third cable connected at one endto said shock absorbing device to extend therefrom in a directionopposite to that of said second cable, operating means connected to saidother end of said third cable whereby said second and said third cablesmay rock said shock absorber about its oscillatory axis in oppositedirections, a latch for releasably holding said winding mechanismagainst rotation when said first cable is wound thereon to hold saiddevice in a position to which it has been moved by said device raisingmechanism, means 75 for releasing said latch to allow said device todrop to the alley and thereby unwind said first cable by resultantrotation of said winding mechanism and simultaneously wind up saidsecond cable thereon, the shock absorbing device being moved by saidsecond cable in a direction to unwind that cable and wind up theattached end of said third cable, and said shock absorbing device beingoperable to assert braking action to slow down the descent of saiddevice as it approaches said alley to allow gentle engagement of saiddevice with said alley.

12. In a bowling pin setting machine operatively disposed at an end of abowling alley whereon pins are arranged in a zone for play, atransversely extending guard movable down and up to and from a positionacross said alley in front of said pin zone, a rotatable cam shaft,means for driving said shaft, a guard cam thereon, means operativelyconnecting said guard cam and said guard, a latch operable to releasablylock said guard in up position, a sweep movably mounted on said guard,said sweep being operable to sweep unwanted pins from said alley whensaid guard is located adjacent said alley, a sweep cam on said camshaft, actuating means between said sweep cam and said sweep, anelectric system, including a photo-electric cell and a light source fordirecting a light beam across said alley in front of said pin zone foractivating said photo-electric cell, a relay unit in said system, anormally inactive solenoid operatively associated with said latch, meansoperated by said photo-electric cell upon interruption of said lightbeam, as by passage of a ball therethrough to effect a change incondition of said system and energize said relay unit and said solenoidto release said latch, whereby said guard drops to its operativeposition across said alley, a control circuit, a switch operated by saidguard, when lowered, to close said circuit, means controlled thereby foreffecting the rotation of said cam shaft and said guard cam and saidsweep cam through actuation of said shaft drive means after apredetermined time delay for raising said guard by said guard cam, saidlatch being operable to automatically relock said guard upon its returnto its up position, and said sweep cam being positioned on said camshaft relatively to said guard cam so as to operate said sweep, betweenthe lowering and the raising of said guard, and effect the movement ofsaid sweep to remove unwanted pins from said alley.

13. The invention defined in claim 2 including a sweep, means mountingsaid sweep for substantially simultaneous movement with said guard tosaid operative position, and means for moving said sweep through saidzone to sweep pins from said alley.

14. In a bowling pin setting machine adapted to be positioned adjacentthe pin spotting zone and the pit of a bowling alley, a sweep devicemovable downwardly from an inoperative position to an operative positionacross said alley in front or said pin zone, and then back to saidinoperative position, mechanism for raising said device, a detectormounted in front of said pin spotting zone of said alley, and mechanismoperated by said detector as the result of the movement of a balltherepast into said pin zone enroute to said pit for effecting themovement of said device to operative position adjacent said alleysubstantially simultaneously with the passage of said ball into saidzone.

15. In a bowling pin setting machine adapted to be positioned adjacentthe pin spotting zone and the pit of a bowling alley, a guarding andsweeping device movable downwardly from an inoperative position to anoperative position across said alley in front of said pin zone, and thenback to said inoperative position, mechanism for raising said device, adetector mounted in front of said pin spotting zone of said alley,mechanism operated by said detector as the result of the movement of aball therepast into said pin zone enroute to said pit for efiecting themovement of said device to said operative position adjacent said alleysubstantially simultaneously with the movement of said ball into saidzone, said last-named mechanism including an electric circuit, a latchholding said device above said alley, and latch releasing meansconnected in said circuit.

16. In a bowling pin setting machine positioned adjacent the pinspotting zone and the pit of a bowling alley, a sweep having guardingmeans associated therewith movable downwardly from an inoperativeposition to an operative position across said alley in front of said pinzone, and then back to said inoperative position, mechanism for raisingsaid sweep, an electronic detector mounted in front of said pin spottingzone of said alley, and mechanism operated by said detector as theresult of the movement of a ball therepast into said zone enroute tosaid pit for effecting the movement of said sweep to sweeping positionadjacent said alley substantially simultaneously with the movement ofsaid ball into said zone.

17. In a bowling pin setting machine for use with a bowling alley havinga pin spotting zone on the bed thereof, a guard element movable downfrom an inoperative guarding position to a position across said bed infront of said pin spotting zone and which is gravity biased for saiddownward movement into said guarding po- 22 sition during the spottingand respotting of pins on the bed and the removal of unwanted pinstherefrom, a latch operable to releasably hold said element in itsupper, inoperative position, an electric circuit, a solenoid in saidcircuit, said solenoid being constructed and arranged to release saidlatch to enable downward movement of said gravity biased element to beeffected, a rotatable shaft, a cam thereon, mechanism operativelyassociated with said cam for raising said element from said guardingposition to said inoperative position, a second electric circuitoperatively connected to said first circuit, a photo-electric cell insaid second circuit, a light source for directing a light beam acrosssaid alley in front of and adjacent said pin zone to said photo-electriccell, said light beam being positioned to be intercepted by a thrownball prior to entrance thereof into said pin zone, means including saidphoto-electric cell in said second circuit operated in response to theinterception of said light beam as said ball moves into said pin zone tocomplete said circuit through said solenoid to release said latch,whereby said gravity biased element descends to guarding position, andmeans for subsequently rotating said shaft and said cam to actuate saidmechanism for returning said element to inoperative position.

SAMUEL S. AUCHINCLOSS. HENRY W. PHILLIPS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,059,211 Rishebegar et al. Apr. 15, 1913 2,014,306 BarkerSept. 10, 1935 2,037,671 Yannes Apr. 14, 1936 2,250,503 Rundell July 29,1941 2,389,643 Schmidt Nov. 27, 1945

